Are you ready to throw the perfect sports-themed birthday party? Today I’m sharing all the different decor I created for my son’s sports party. He loved the party and I think you’ll love how easy it is to change up the decor to match your party theme.
If you’re throwing a sports-themed birthday party check out my football cupcakes and my football field cake. They’re super simple and add a fun detail to the party.
This party was initially shared in 2012 but has been updated to include more information.
How to Throw a Sports-Themed Birthday Party
Throwing a sports-themed party is pretty easy. You likely have a lot of decor supplies around your home. I love using things I have on hand for parties.
From mason jars to cardstock and baker’s twine to duct tape, I made a lot of the decor pieces without buying anything.
Sports Party Tablecloth
First up we have the football field tablecloth. This project was a lot of fun to make and was really easy. Unfortunately, we had a bit of rain before the party started so the color is off but I am sure you can picture what it looked like.
Supplies used:
- White Plastic Tablecloth
- Cricut Machine
- Dark Green Fabric
- White HTV or Cardstock
- Heat Press (or household iron)
- White Duct Tape
How to Make a Football Field Table Runner
To make the football field table runner I started with a basic white plastic tablecloth. I layered a long strip of dark green fabric as a table runner.
I kept my table runner really simple. Cut the fabric to the width and length needed. I left the edges raw, you could hem them if you wanted.
Lay the fabric piece out on the table and then use white duct tape to mark your yards and attach it to the tablecloth.
I used my Cricut machine to cut out numbers from white cardstock. You could also use HTV if you wanted a more permanent table runner.
My fabric was dark green. The rain storm darkened the fabric making it look black. It still looked cute but not exactly like a football field.
Mason Jar Football Centerpiece
You know how much I love to use Mason Jars in my decor. Using inexpensive footballs balanced on top of mason jars gave the sports-themed birthday party table some height which was great.
Supplies Used:
- Cricut Machine
- Wide Mouth Mason Jar
- Dollar Store Football
- Crinkle Paper Filler
- Baker’s Twine
- Cardstock
- Design Space File
How to Make a Football Mason Jar Centerpiece
To make a football mason jar centerpiece start with a wide-mouth mason jar and fill it with crinkle paper filling. I used a light brown, you could also choose to use a color that matched your favorite team.
Create a tag using the cut file listed above and attach it to the neck of the mason jar using baker’s twine.
To finish, add an inexpensive football to the top. I purchased mine from the dollar store, you may also find them on amazon.
Football Banner
The happy birthday football banner was really fun to make. The stamp set I initially used to make this banner is no longer available so I’ve recreated the look using images in Design Space. You can find the entire project in Design Space at the link below.
Supplies used:
How to Make a Happy Birthday Football Banner
To create this sports-themed birthday party banner start by cutting out the white banner pieces. You will need enough banner pieces for each letter in Happy Birthday (13) or any other phrase you want to use.
Your Cricut machine will draw the image first. You can use any color pen you want to use.
Cut out your letters. I used metallic cardstock, you can use any color cardstock you want.
When you’re done cutting out the letter banner pieces cut out the football pieces. I wanted a football between each letter and at the start and end of the words for a total of 14.
To assemble the banner string the footballs onto the baker’s twine. Separate the footballs and add the banner pieces.
Fold the top strips over the baker’s twine and using adhesive adhere them to the back of the banner.
As a little extra for the tabletop, I cut out the same football I used in the banner in a slightly smaller size and using baker’s twine attached them to the front of smaller mason jars.
These jars held tea light candles and I placed them between the other football mason jar centerpieces.
Sports-Themed Birthday Party Favors
For the party favors, I used clear treat bags filled with candy and other party goodies and tied the bags with ribbon. The ribbon has cute little footballs on it which tied into the party theme really well.
Sports Party Flags
These party flags turned out great. They were fun to add throughout the party table.
Find the full tutorial on making the party flags here.
Goal Post Table Top Decor
The last decor piece I came up with was this goalpost. Like the other party decor pieces, this one used just a few supplies I had around the house.
Supplies used:
- Wooden Dowel Rods
- Hot Glue
- Terra Cotta Pot
- Cardboard
- Scrapbook Paper
- Mod Podge
- Paint
- Paintbrush
How to Make a Goalpost Center Piece
To make the goalpost start by gluing the dowels together. Hot glue the pieces together and allow them to dry. Once everything is dry it’s time to paint. Paint the dowels and the terra cotta pot to match your decor.
Cut out the cardboard into the shape of whatever you want. I used my son’s age, you could also choose their jersey number.
Trace the cardboard onto the back of the scrapbook paper and cut that out. Use Mod Podge to attach the scrapbook paper to the cardboard.
Once everything is dry, use hot glue to attach the number to the wooden dowels. Flip the terra cotta pot upside down and use the hole in the bottom to hold up the goalpost.
My son loved this piece from his party so much that he still has it up in his room.
Final Thoughts on Throwing a Perfect Sports-Themed Birthday Party
This was such a fun party to put together for my son. By using the same color scheme and images throughout the party everything tied together for a cohesive look.
Lots of the decor pieces are things I already had around the house. Most of the things I bought are things my son used as a toy or as decor in his room.
It was a great way to throw a party on a budget.
Sports Party Food
I shared my football cupcakes and football field birthday cake above. For a few other fun party foods you can use brown cardstock and wrap it around a juice box. Cut out a little football design and glue it to the front for instant party decor!
I also made the football cupcakes my son to carried to school. The little football cupcake toppers were the perfect addition.
Party Surprise
If y’all think I am the only crafty one in the family, think again! My hubby MADE this hay trailer for my son to pull behind his pedal tractor. He made it from scrap metal and welded it together. I then painted it with Krylon. We made the hay bales using hay, saran wrap, and twine.<
The wagon was most definitely the hit of the party!
Equipment
- Heat Press
Supplies
- 1 White Plastic Tablecloth
- 1 Dark Green Fabric
- 1 roll White Duct Tape
- Cardstock or HTV
Instructions
Sports Party Tablecloth
- First up we have the football field tablecloth. This project was a lot of fun to make and was really easy. Unfortunately, we had a bit of rain before the party started so the color is off but I am sure you can picture what it looked like.
How to Make a Football Field Table Runner
- To make the football field table runner I started with a basic white plastic tablecloth. I layered a long strip of dark green fabric as a table runner.
- I kept my table runner really simple. Cut the fabric to the width and length needed. I left the edges raw, you could hem them if you wanted.
- Lay the fabric piece out on the table and then use white duct tape to mark your yards and attach it to the tablecloth.
- I used my Cricut machine to cut out numbers from white cardstock. You could also use HTV if you wanted a more permanent table runner.
- My fabric was dark green. The rain storm darkened the fabric making it look black. It still looked cute but not exactly like a football field.
Equipment
Supplies
- Wide Mouth Mason Jar
- Crinkle Paper
- Football
- Cardstock
- Baker's Twine
Instructions
Mason Jar Football Centerpiece
- You know how much I love to use Mason Jars in my decor. Using inexpensive footballs balanced on top of mason jars gave the sports-themed birthday party table some height which was great.
How to Make a Football Mason Jar Centerpiece
- To make a football mason jar centerpiece start with a wide-mouth mason jar and fill it with crinkle paper filling. I used a light brown, you could also choose to use a color that matched your favorite team.
- Create a tag using the cut file listed above and attach it to the neck of the mason jar using baker’s twine.
- To finish, add an inexpensive football to the top. I purchased mine from the dollar store, you may also find them on amazon.
Equipment
- Cricut Pen
Supplies
- Cardstock
- Baker's Twine
- Adhesive
Instructions
Football Banner
- The happy birthday football banner was really fun to make. The stamp set I initially used to make this banner is no longer available so I’ve recreated the look using images in Design Space. You can find the entire project in Design Space at the link below.
How to Make a Happy Birthday Football Banner
- To create this sports-themed birthday party banner start by cutting out the white banner pieces. You will need enough banner pieces for each letter in Happy Birthday (13) or any other phrase you want to use.
- Your Cricut machine will draw the image first. You can use any color pen you want to use.
- Cut out your letters. I used metallic cardstock, you can use any color cardstock you want.
- When you’re done cutting out the letter banner pieces cut out the football pieces. I wanted a football between each letter and at the start and end of the words for a total of 14.
- To assemble the banner string the footballs onto the baker’s twine. Separate the footballs and add the banner pieces.
- Fold the top strips over the baker’s twine and using adhesive adhere them to the back of the banner.
- As a little extra for the tabletop, I cut out the same football I used in the banner in a slightly smaller size and using baker’s twine attached them to the front of smaller mason jars.
- These jars held tea light candles and I placed them between the other football mason jar centerpieces.
Equipment
Supplies
- Wooden Dowel
- Hot Glue
- Terra Cotta Pot
- Cardboard
- Scrapbook Paper
- Mod Podge
- Paint
Instructions
Goal Post Table Top Decor
- The last decor piece I came up with was this goalpost. Like the other party decor pieces, this one used just a few supplies I had around the house.
How to Make a Goalpost Centerpiece
- To make the goalpost start by gluing the dowels together. Hot glue the pieces together and allow them to dry. Once everything is dry it’s time to paint. Paint the dowels and the terra cotta pot to match your decor.
- Cut out the cardboard into the shape of whatever you want. I used my son’s age, you could also choose their jersey number.
- Trace the cardboard onto the back of the scrapbook paper and cut that out. Use Mod Podge to attach the scrapbook paper to the cardboard.
- Once everything is dry, use hot glue to attach the number to the wooden dowels. Flip the terra cotta pot upside down and use the hole in the bottom to hold up the goalpost.
I came across this on Pinterest and followed it to your blog. Thanks for all the great ideas!